The Keys After Irma: Casa Marina and The Reach

Following Hurricane Irma, Casa Marina and The Reach, Waldorf Astoria Resorts in Key West, were fortunate to reopen their doors on October 13, 2017, just one month after the hurricane and nearly three weeks ahead of schedule. For the weeks following Irma, Casa Marina provided instrumental recovery efforts for the region, including housing rescue workers and supplying meals to the local fire and police departments and organizing hurricane recovery clean-up events.

John Trovato, Managing Director of Casa Marina and The Reach, displayed heroic leadership and dedication to his community. John and his team cleared litter from Higgs Beach and White Street Pier, opened up the Casa Marina parking lot as a helicopter landing area to assist a neighboring hotel in getting supplies and food for their staff, visited Big Pine Key for deconstruction and removal of a destroyed home and dock, and removed debris.

Employees at both resorts were committed to supporting the local community. Along with Joe Berger, Hilton’s Executive Vice President of Americas, they took their hospitality talents to the surrounding region with the Keys Strong Organization, which raises money and coordinates individuals and organizations who want to personally support the efforts to rebuild Keys communities. The group of volunteers from Hilton Corporate, Casa Marina and The Reach Resorts loaded U-Hauls with supplies and helped with an extensive clean-up for the island of Big Coppitt Key. On March 22, 2018, John Trovato was presented with an award at the Samuel’s House 18^th Annual ‘Women of Integrity and Men of Valor’ Dinner for his team’s post-hurricane recovery efforts.

Casa Marina welcomed the first wedding following Hurricane Irma on October 14, 2017. The couple tied the knot on Casa Marina’s private beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. A traditional Junkanoo band flown in from the Bahamas led guests to cocktail hour after the ceremony, and the evening ended with a spectacular nighttime fireworks show on the beach. The groom stated, “It was amazing for us to be a part of the Key West rebuilding effort in our own small way and let everyone know the Keys are back open for business. The Casa Marina Resort and staff did an incredible job and we couldn’t be happier with the celebration that we will remember for the rest of our lives. The strong spirit of Key West after Hurricane Irma helped pull off our wedding.”

Since their reopening, both resorts are operating at full capacity and warmly welcoming leisure and convention travelers. Both resorts offer robust amenities and unique activities, such as beachside massages in private cabanas, water sports rentals, jet-ski tours around the island, snorkel adventures, sand-sculpting workshops led by an award-winning resident sculptor, toes-in-the-sand dining, beach butlers, tastings of the most extensive rum collection in Key West, and so much more. From the sandy beaches, swaying palms and a ballroom boasting dark hardwood floors and arched windows at Casa Marina, to the picturesque pier and gazebo at The Reach, both Waldorf Astoria Key West Resorts continue to provide the island’s most robust wedding and romance offerings.